The Bandera City Council reviewed code enforcement procedures at their Feb. 11 meeting, with Judge Mike Towers now involved earlier in cases for better familiarity. The council also confirmed a 12-day agenda item deadline and rescinded a petition on EDC funding for Country Christmas.
Code Enforcement
Code enforcement reports were presented by Code Enforcement Officer Jon Davis, Judge Mike Towers, and Marshal Heidelberg, the process for which has been amended, per city administrator Stan Farmer.
Farmer stated owers is now involved from “the front end” to familiarize with the case sooner, as opposed to being introduced to it weeks after the initial violation.
Davis presented the code enforcement reports from last October through January, noting October and December were a little heavy in code enforcement violations.
Violations were categorized as RV, Junk POV, Vehicles, Lawns, Signs, Lighting, No Permit and Trash Bins; vehicles, lawns, signs, and trash bins rendered the highest number of violations.
Davis said 68 violations were reported in the month of January.
The second portion of Davis’s presentation reflected the method of reporting violations: Phone Call, E-mail, Walk-In Report or City Discovered, with city discovered and phone calls rendering the highest number.
Marshal Heidelberg addressed the council regarding code enforcement, noting that he too is also a code enforcement officer along with Davis.
After Councilmember Lynn Palmer asked for clarification on when law enforcement involves themselves in code violations, Heidelberg stated this occurs only when a citizen is not working to bring their violation into city compliance.
“We want to provide the best code enforcement possible and at the same time, follow the due process of law so that the citizens of the city of Bandera won’t feel like you’re just giving them a hard time,” Judge Towers stated in the conclusion of the code enforcement presentation.
EDC Petition
The council closed for an executive session to discuss the Wastewater Treatment Plant and the EDC Petition.
No decision was announced regarding the Wastewater Treatment Plant, but the council moved to rescind the EDC petition, rescinding the request for funds from the EDC.
The funding had been proposed to go to the purchase of a tree, tunnel and replacement lights. The purchases for these items were made in late 2024 and covered by a $39,000 donation from local businesses.
Councilmember Tony Battle expressed his hope that the EDC would see the benefit in investing later this year.
“I hope the EDC saw the impact that the Christmas in the Park brought to our community. It was extremely well supported by the business owners and a great economic driver for our city,” Battle said. “In my opinion, there is no better use of the EDC’s funds than an event like this,” he said. “Despite the difference of opinion on how these funds were allocated, I hope the EDC will consider funding this event in the future.”
Mayor Griffin stated she did not believe members of the EDC were behind the petition, though Councilmember Brett Hicks believed the petition stemmed from a few EDC members and a handful of residents who “rallied and went door to door with half-truths.”
“Members of the EDC initially approved the spend and then later signed a petition against it,” Hicks went on to say. “The city council elected to move forward with the expenditures after the EDC approved the funds almost unanimously. We couldn’t have envisioned that several EDC members would change their minds within a couple of weeks and sign and get behind a petition against the Christmas lights event. If we had known about any serious concerns beforehand, we would not have moved forward with the spend.”
Councilmember Lynn Palmer stated that the event was an opportunity to boost the city’s economy and said the city’s actions regarding the matter had been transparent and public.
EDC President Deanna McCabe declined the Bulletin’s request for comment.
Budget Amendment
City Treasurer Allyson Wright presented a budget amendment to the council which would move the excess salary expense from the Council Salary into a new line-item transfer out to Christmas.
The funds would be classified as an “expense” and moved into the park fund as “revenue.” The motion passed unanimously.
Agenda Deadline
The Council then considered Mayor Denise Griffin’s proposal to set a deadline for adding items to the agenda.
Ordinance 450, extending the submission deadline to 12 days before meetings, was unanimously approved.
